Sugar Ain't Sweet

People of color, especially Latinos and African Americans are twice as likely to develop diabetes, as are White Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly one-in-seven African Americans have diabetes. Moreover, some reports estimate that 3.2 million African Americans over age 20 have developed the disease. One-in-four African American women, older than 55 years of age, may have diabetes. There are also startling statistics about the ravages of diabetes on African Americans. They are almost three times more likely to endure lower limb amputations than Whites are. African Americans suffer from retinopathy (diabetes-related blindness) nearly twice as often as White Americans and are diagnosed with diabetes-related kidney failure at five times the rate of Whites. In addition to a disproportionately high death rate from diabetic complications, this disease debilitates nearly 4,000 African American people per year.

The debilitating effects of diabetes on the African American race are staggering. Loss of productivity, loss of income, and early deaths contribute to a dismal picture for the strength and stability of the Black community. The reliance on public assistance increases as people with diabetes and its complications become eligible for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare. (Renal or kidney failure is one of the key qualifying events for Medicare coverage.) One can't help noticing the increase in the number of dialysis centers sprouting up around the country, especially in urban areas.

Obesity is a leading cause of a myriad of health care problems, which are easily avoidable with the right approach to personal health care management. Obesity has been determined as a major trigger for the onset of diabetes. Some research postulates that the body responds less efficiently to the insulin produced by overweight people. This can lead to over production of insulin, which impairs the system, making one susceptible to the onset of diabetes. African Americans and Latinos account for a significant portion of overweight Americans. The drastic increase in the consumption of high fat, processed foods and reduced physical activity are leading contributors to what some are proclaiming, as the American obesity epidemic.

Genetics also plays a major role in our predisposition to diabetes. Some ethnic groups have shown a higher genetic predisposition to the disease, including African, Latino and Asian Americans. Research is ongoing to determine the root cause of this phenomenon. Studies have concluded that children born to a mother diagnosed with gestational diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing juvenile diabetes. A child with one diabetic parent has a 14% chance of developing the disease. When both parents have type 2 diabetes, there is almost a 45% chance of the child becoming diabetic.

Health care utilization statistics show that preventive health care visits among African Americans is lower than that of Whites. Failure to seek early diagnosis and ongoing treatment for diabetes are primary factors in the adverse impact of the disease in the African American community.